Friday, April 6, 2007

Artist Spotlight: Holmes

"...something like a Ben Folds Five/Jamiroquai hybrid run through a George Martin production studio."

XM Satellite Radio is the perfect resource for learning about bands you've never heard before. With endless channels of music in varying genres, there is always an opportunity to stumble on a track that you didn't know existed. On my XM player, I'm able to record tracks that I hear so that I can easily listen to them again later. While driving this morning, I came back to a track I saved previously by a band called Holmes. Whether or not anything becomes of this band, I will be keeping an ear out for them over the coming months. Their song "Wake Up" is instantly catchy, as the best pop songs always are. Researching the band online, since I still had no idea what their story was, I came upon this profile on firstcoastnews.com:

by Paul ZimmermanFirst Coast News

Roy Shakked is a busy guy. Not only is he a producer and a singer/songwriter he's also the main force behind Holmes. In Holmes Shakked has put together a tiny super group of musicians that most bands would kill to have at their disposal. From guitarist Lyle Workman (Sting, Beck, Frank Black), Drummer Ramy Antoun (Seal), Cellist Sarah O'Brian (ELO), and bassist Brett Simons (Liz Phair) Holmes definitely has muso written all over it.

Thankfully, all this talent is used in a good way and Holmes's EP is stacked with catchy songs that glisten with pop sheen. This little taster of his upcoming album never lets up as each of the five songs here are just about as good as it gets. The EP is lush, delicate, infectious, and laced with all sorts of Beatles and funky flourishes. Holmes as a result sounds something like a Ben Folds Five/Jamiroquai hybrid run through a George Martin production studio.

This Holmes EP is a fun record that's pure pop pleasure. From the opening note of the almost analog, "Wake Up," to the ballady piano of, "Nevermind," the Holmes EP is a joy to listen to. If this introduction hints at how good Holmes' full length is going to be, we're going to be in for a treat.